Sagrada Família | Architectuul Description Change this The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (English: Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family; Spanish: Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia), commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI. Though construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style—combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Sagrada Família's construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War—only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project's greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026—the centennial of Gaudí's death. The basílica has a long history of dividing the citizens of Barcelona—over the initial possibility it might compete with Barcelona's cathedral, over Gaudí's design itself, over the possibility that work after Gaudí's death disregarded his design, and the recent possibility that an underground tunnel of Spain's high-speed train could disturb its stability. Describing Sagrada Familia, art critic Rainer Zerbst said "it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art" and Paul Goldberger called it 'the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages'.

Background The Basilica of the Sagrada Família was the inspiration of a Catalan bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella, founder of Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). After a visit to the Vatican in 1872, Bocabella returned from Italy with the intention of building a church inspired by that at Loreto. The crypt of the church, funded by donations, was begun 19 March 1882, on the festival of St. Joseph, to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, whose plan was for a Gothic revival church of a standard form. Antoni Gaudí began work on the project in 1883. On 18 March 1883 Villar retired from the project, and Gaudí assumed responsibility for its design, which he changed radically. Construction On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked: "My client is not in a hurry." When Gaudí died in 1926, the basilica was between 15 and 25 percent complete.

After Gaudí's death, work continued under the direction of Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished basilica and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the plans that were burned in a fire as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940 the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The illumination was designed by Carles Buigas. The current director and son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol, has been introducing computers into the design and construction process since the 1980s. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial Josep Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades. The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse.

As of 2006, work concentrated on the crossing and supporting structure for the main tower of Jesus Christ as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave, which will become the Glory façade. Fire On 19 April 2011, an arsonist started a small fire in the sacristy which forced the evacuation of tourists and construction workers, but caused minimal damage. The sacristy itself, however, was destroyed by the fire, which took 45 minutes to contain. Design The style of la Sagrada Familia is variously likened to Spanish Late Gothic, Catalan Modernism and to Art Nouveau or Catalan Noucentisme. While the Sagrada Família falls within the Art Nouveau period, Nikolaus Pevsner points out that, along with Charles Rennie Macintosh in Glasgow, Gaudí carried the Art Nouveau style far beyond its usual application as a surface decoration. Plan While never intended to be a cathedral (seat of a bishop), the Sagrada Família was planned from the outset to be a cathedral-sized building. Its ground-plan has obvious links to earlier Spanish cathedrals such as Burgos Cathedral, Leon Cathedral and Seville Cathedral.

In common with Catalan and many other European Gothic cathedrals, the Sagrada Familia is short in comparison to its width, and has a great complexity of parts, which include double aisles, an ambulatory with a chevet of seven apsidal chapels, a multitude of towers and three portals, each widely different in structure as well as ornament. Where it is common for cathedrals in Spain to be surrounded by numerous chapels and ecclesiastical buildings, the plan of this church has an unusual feature: a covered passage or cloister which forms a rectangle enclosing the church and passing through the narthex of each of its three portals. With this peculiarity aside, the plan, influenced by Villar's crypt, barely hints at the complexity of Gaudí's design or its deviations from traditional church architecture. Spires Gaudí's original design calls for a total of eighteen spires, representing in ascending order of height the Twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ. Eight spires have been built as of 2010, corresponding to four apostles at the Nativity façade and four apostles at the Passion façade.

According to the 2005 Works Report of the project's official website, drawings signed by Gaudí and recently found in the Municipal Archives, indicate that the spire of the Virgin was in fact intended by Gaudí to be shorter than those of the evangelists. The spire height will follow Gaudí's intention, which according to the Works Report will work with the existing foundation. The Evangelists' spires will be surmounted by sculptures of their traditional symbols: a bull (Saint Luke), a winged man (Saint Matthew), an eagle (Saint John), and a lion (Saint Mark). The central spire of Jesus Christ is to be surmounted by a giant cross; the spire's total height (170 metres (560 ft)) will be one metre less than that of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona as Gaudi believed that his creation should not surpass God's. The lower spires are surmounted by communion hosts with sheaves of wheat and chalices with bunches of grapes, representing the Eucharist. The completion of the spires will make Sagrada Família the tallest church building in the world.

The façade The Church will have three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South (yet to be completed). The Nativity Façade was built before work was interrupted in 1935 and bears the most direct Gaudí influence. The Passion façade is especially striking for its spare, gaunt, tormented characters, including emaciated figures of Christ being scourged at the pillar; and Christ on the Cross. These controversial designs are the work of Josep Maria Subirachs. The Glory façade, on which construction began in 2002, will be the largest and most monumental of the three and will represent one's ascension to God. It will also depict various scenes such as Hell, Purgatory, and will include elements such as the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Nativity Façade Constructed between 1894 and 1930, the Nativity façade was the first façade to be completed. Dedicated to the birth of Jesus, it is decorated with scenes reminiscent of elements of life.

Characteristic of Gaudí's naturalistic style, the sculptures are ornately arranged and decorated with scenes and images from nature, each a symbol in their own manner. For instance, the three porticos are separated by two large columns, and at the base of each lies a turtle or a tortoise (one to represent the land and the other the sea; each are symbols of time as something set in stone and unchangeable). In contrast to the figures of turtles and their symbolism, two chameleons can be found at either side of the façade, and are symbolic of change. The façade faces the rising sun to the northeast, a symbol for the birth of Christ. It is divided into three porticos, each of which represents a theological virtue (Hope, Faith and Charity). The Tree of Life rises above the door of Jesus in the portico of Charity. Four towers complete the façade and are each dedicated to a Saint (Matthias the Apostle, Saint Barnabas, Jude the Apostle, and Simon the Zealot). Originally, Gaudí intended for this façade to be polychromed, for each archivolt to be painted with a wide array of colours. He wanted every statue and figure to be painted.

In this way the figures of humans would appear as much alive as the figures of plants and animals. Gaudí chose this façade to embody the structure and decoration of the whole church. He was well aware that he would not finish the church and that he would need to set an artistic and architectural example for others to follow. He also chose for this façade to be the first on which to begin construction and for it to be, in his opinion, the most attractive and accessible to the public. He believed that if he had begun construction with the Passion Façade, one that would be hard and bare (as if made of bones), before the Nativity Façade, people would have withdrawn at the sight of it. Passion Façade In contrast to the highly decorated Nativity Façade, the Passion Façade is austere, plain and simple, with ample bare stone, and is carved with harsh straight lines to resemble a skeleton if it were reduced to only bone. Dedicated to the Passion of Christ, the suffering of Jesus during his crucifixion, the façade was intended to portray the sins of man.

Construction began in 1954, following the drawings and instructions left by Gaudí for future architects and sculptors. The towers were completed in 1976, and in 1987 a team of sculptors, headed by Josep Maria Subirachs, began work sculpting the various scenes and details of the façade. They aimed to give a rigid, angular form to provoke a dramatic effect. Gaudí intended for this façade to strike fear into the onlooker. He wanted to "break" arcs and "cut" columns, and to use the effect of chiaroscuro (dark angular shadows contrasted by harsh rigid light) to further show the severity and brutality of Christ's sacrifice. Facing the setting sun, indicative and symbolic of the death of Christ, the Passion Façade is supported by six large and inclined columns, designed to resemble sequoia trunks. Above there is a pyramidal pediment, made up of eighteen bone-shaped columns, which culminate in a large cross with a crown of thorns.

Each of the four towers is dedicated to an apostle (James, Thomas, Philip, or Bartholomew) and, like the Nativity Façade, there are three porticos, each representing the theological virtues, though in a much different light. The scenes sculpted into the façade may be divided into three levels, which ascend in an 'S' form and reproduce the Calvary, or Golgotha, of Christ. The lowest level depicts scenes from Jesus' last night before the crucifixion, including The Last Supper, Kiss of Judas, Ecce Homo, and the Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus. The middle level portrays the Calvary, or Golgotha, of Christ, and includes The Three Marys, Saint Veronica, Saint Longinus, and a hollow-face illusion of Christ. In the third and final level the Death, Burial and the Resurrection of Christ can be seen. A bronze figure situated on a bridge creating a link between the towers of Saint Bartholomew and Saint Thomas represents the Ascension of Jesus. Glory Façade The largest and most striking of the façades will be the Glory Façade, on which construction began in 2002.

It will be the principal façade and will offer access to the central nave. Dedicated to the Celestial Glory of Jesus, it represents the road to God: Death, Final Judgment, and Glory, while Hell is left for those who deviate from God's will. Aware that he would not live long enough to see this façade completed, Gaudí made only a general sketch of what the façade would look like. He intended for the temple, like many cathedrals and façades throughout history, not only to be completed by other architects but also to incorporate other architectural and artistic styles. To reach the Glory Portico, there will be a large staircase, which will create an underground passage beneath Carrer Mallorca, representing Hell and vice. It will be decorated with demons, idols, false gods, heresy and schisms, etc. Purgatory and death will also be depicted, the latter using tombs along the ground. The portico will have seven large columns dedicated to spiritual gifts. At the base of the columns there will be representations of the Seven Deadly Sins, and at the top, The Seven Heavenly Virtues. Interior The church plan is that of a Latin cross with five aisles.

The central nave vaults reach forty-five metres while the side nave vaults reach thirty metres. The transept has three aisles. The columns are on a 7.5 metre grid. However, the columns of the apse, resting on del Villar's foundation, do not adhere to the grid, requiring a section of columns of the ambulatory to transition to the grid thus creating a horseshoe pattern to the layout of those columns. The crossing rests on the four central columns of porphyry supporting a great hyperboloid surrounded by two rings of twelve hyperboloids (currently under construction). The central vault reaches sixty metres. The apse is capped by a hyperboloid vault reaching seventy-five metres. Gaudí intended that a visitor standing at the main entrance be able to see the vaults of the nave, crossing, and apse, thus the graduated increase in vault loftiness. There are gaps in the floor of the apse, providing a view down into the crypt below. The columns of the interior are a unique Gaudí design. Besides branching to support their load, their ever-changing surfaces are the result of the intersection of various geometric forms.

The simplest example is that of a square base evolving into an octagon as the column rises, then a sixteen-sided form, and eventually to a circle. This effect is the result of a three-dimensional intersection of helicoidal columns (for example a square cross-section column twisting clockwise and a similar one twisting counter-clockwise). Essentially none of the interior surfaces are flat; the ornamentation is comprehensive and rich, consisting in large part of abstract shapes which combine smooth curves and jagged points. Even detail-level work such as the iron railings for balconies and stairways are full of curvaceous elaboration. Geometric details The towers on the Nativity façade are crowned with geometrically shaped tops that are reminiscent of Cubism (they were finished around 1930), and the intricate decoration is contemporary to the style of Art Nouveau, but Gaudí's unique style drew primarily from nature, not other artists or architects, and resists categorization.

Gaudí used hyperboloid structures in later designs of the Sagrada Família (more obviously after 1914), however there are a few places on the nativity façade—a design not equated with Gaudí's ruled-surface design—where the hyperboloid crops up. For example, all around the scene with the pelican there are numerous examples (including the basket held by one of the figures). There is a hyperboloid adding structural stability to the cypress tree (by connecting it to the bridge). And finally, the "bishop's mitre" spires are capped with hyperboloid structures. In his later designs, ruled surfaces are prominent in the nave's vaults and windows and the surfaces of the Passion façade. Symbolism Themes throughout the decoration include words from the liturgy. The towers are decorated with words such as "Hosanna", "Excelsis", and "Sanctus"; the great doors of the Passion façade reproduce words from the Bible in various languages including Catalan; and the Glory façade is to be decorated with the words from the Apostles' Creed. The three entrances symbolize the three virtues: Faith, Hope and Love.

Each of them is also dedicated to a part of Christ's life. The Nativity Façade is dedicated to his birth; it also has a cypress tree which symbolizes the tree of life. The Glory façade is dedicated to his glory period. The Passion façade is symbolic of his suffering. All in all, the Sagrada Família is symbolic of the lifetime of Christ. Areas of the sanctuary will be designated to represent various concepts, such as saints, virtues and sins, and secular concepts such as regions, presumably with decoration to match. La Sagrada Família Knowledge Base > Art & Architecture > Architecture La Sagrada Família The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (English: Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family; Spanish: Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia), commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926).

Brown University student majoring in public policy and economics Curated Facts More than 1,500 people were evacuated from one of Spain's most popular tourist attractions, Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica, after an apparent arson attack. Four people were treated for smoke inhalation after fire broke out in the sacristy of Antoni Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece. A "disturbed" man was arrested after a group of tourists raised the alarm. Article: Barcelona: Sagrada Famili... In Barcelona, preservationists' fears about a train tunnel under the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia forced extensive engineering measures to avoid damaging the church. Article: Economic impact of high-s... Pope Benedict XVI has consecrated Antoni Gaudi's unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia, as a basilica in the Spanish city of Barcelona. The Pope sprinkled holy water on the altar before a congregation of more than 6,500 people. Gaudi's greatest work has been under construction for more than a century, and will not be finished before 2026. The current chief architect said he hoped the Pope's visit would provide the boost needed to finish the work. Article: Pope Benedict consecrates...

In the year 2003, the Vatican opened the formal process for the beatification of Antoni Gaudi, responding to an initiative by people close to the Sagrada Familia. The tomb of Gaudi is being promoted as a cult site, while the temple itself, despite continuing controversy related to its politico-religious and architectural significance, has become the one building most closely associated with the city of Barcelona and its principal tourist attraction. × Amazon Results At a time when the Sagrada Família had come almost to a standstill for lack of funds, the Lliga support infused new money and new meaning useful for both political and spiritual camps. As the city grew to embrace it and the temple spires rose skyward (fig. 9), it was the more general imagery of "growth," of massive and vertiginous ascent, that would carry the symbolic weight desired by the Lliga over the following years, indexing the ascendancy of the party within the Catalan political panorama.

Building La Sagrada Familia Building La Sagrada Familia Written by AZoBuildJan 28 2013 Topics Covered Sources Tallest Church Building in the World The Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, or Sagrada Família, as it is commonly known, is a large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí. In November 2010, La Sagrada Famili was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in the presence of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, attended by a congregation of 6,500 people, inside and about 50,000 people outside the basilica. Reports state that when the spires are completed, Sagrada Família will be the tallest church building in the world. Designing La Sagrada Familia It was the inspiration and dream of a Catalan bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella, founder of Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José to build a magnificent church in Spain after visiting the Vatican in 1872.

The construction of the crypt of La Sagrada Familia began in March 1882 under the guidance of architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. Its ground-plan had obvious resemblance to earlier Spanish cathedrals such as Leon Cathedral, Burgos Cathedral, and Seville Cathedral. Antoni Gaudí’s design is filled with Roman Catholic symbolizations throughout the entire structure. His plan to have a total of 18 spires had a deeper meaning. In ascending order of height, the spires were to represent the Twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and the tallest one being, Jesus Christ. Gaudi knew that La Sagrada Familia would not be completed in his lifetime due to constraints of money and manual labor. He wanted to ensure that in the future the Church will continue to have formal, structural, luminous, acoustic and constructive qualities; hence most of his designs combined geometrical forms (hyperboloids, paraboloids, helicoids, conoids and ellipsoids) keeping these qualities in mind.

The Structure of La Sagrada Familia The radical and spectacular structure of the Sagrada Familia is known for its complexity of parts, which include an ambulatory with a chevet of seven apsidal chapels, double aisles, 18 spires, four façades with three portals each, all uniquely different in structure as well as ornaments. Another complex feature is the covered passage or cloister, which forms a rectangle enclosing the church and passing through the narthex of each of its three portals. The Nativity façade is dedicated to the Birth of Jesus Christ, and is designed with three portals. The Portal of Hope is devoted to the theological virtue of hope and to Joseph. The Portal of Faith is devoted to the theological virtue of faith and to Mary. The Portal of Charity is devoted to the theological virtue of charity or love and to Jesus. The Passion façade was the work of Josep Maria Subirachs with the grand stained glass designed by Joan Vila-Grau. It is dedicated to the death of Christ, and hence this façade is designed to face the west so that it receives the last rays of the sun before night falls, which adds to the serene and sombre theme of this part of the church.

Gaudí intended the sculptures on the Passion façade to be free of ornaments and composed of simple forms, thereby symbolizing the desolation, the pain and the death of Jesus Christ. It has three portals as well, and four bell towers that are devoted to the apostles St. James the Less, St Bartholomew, St Thomas and St Philip. The Glory façade is the main façade and the entrance to the church. On completion, it will have three portals, and a porch with seven columns to symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The bell towers are dedicated to the apostles St Andrew, St Peter, St Paul and St James the Great. The Glory façade faces south so that the sun shines on it for most of the day. The sculptures on the Glory façade will showcase Man in the general order of creation, showing his origin, his purpose and the roads he must take to accomplish it. The Apse façade is dedicated to Our Lady/ Mother Mary. It is built on top of the crypt. There are seven apsidal chapels with slender windows and pointed arches between the walls.

Sculptures on the Apse façade are dedicated to the founders of religious orders, such as St Antony, St Benedict, St Scholastica, St Bruno, St Francis, St Elias and St Clare. The pediments of the apse are stylised and elongated, and end in pinnacles with the initials of Our Lady, St Joseph and Christ. On the upper part of the Apse façade are depictions of different natural elements such as the palm frond and even ears of wheat or wild grass to indicate the greenery that grew on the land where the church was built. On either side of the apse are the side steps, The towers of the chapels will be pyramidal and topped by a symbolic figuration of the invocations to the Messiah. Aesthetic Components of La Sagrada Familia The Evangelists' spires will be surmounted by sculptures based on their traditional symbols: a bull for St.Luke, a winged man for St. Matthew, an eagle for St.John, and a lion for St. Mark. The central spire of Jesus Christ will be surmounted by a giant cross, and it will measure 170 m (560 ft).

The lower spires will be surmounted by communion hosts with sheaves of wheat and chalices with bunches of grapes, to represent the Eucharist. Related Stories Protect your Timber from Fire – from Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation The decorations at La Sagrada Familia include words from the liturgy. For example, the spires are decorated with words such as "Hosanna", "Excelsis", and "Sanctus", while the great doors of the Passion façade reproduce words from the Bible in various languages, and the Glory façade is to be decorated with the words from the Apostles' Creed. The entire structure of the Sagrada Família is symbolic of the lifetime of Christ. Interior Design of La Sagrada Familia The church plan resembles a Latin cross with five aisles. The central nave vaults measure 45 m while the side nave vaults measure 30 m. The transept has three aisles. The columns are placed on a 7.5 m grid.

The columns of the apse, however, do not adhere to the grid, and requires a section of columns of the ambulatory to transition to the grid, thus creating a horseshoe pattern to the layout of those columns. The crossing lies on the four central columns of porphyry supporting a great hyperboloid surrounded by two rings of 12 hyperboloids. The apse is capped by a hyperboloid vault measuring 75 m. Gaudí envisioned that a visitor standing at the main entrance should be able to see the vaults of the nave, crossing, and apse. There are gaps in the floor of the apse to provide a view of the crypt below. Gaudi’s columns are masterpieces by themselves incorporating numerous geometric patterns. For example, the columns of the interior have ever-changing surfaces, which are the result of the intersection of various geometric forms - a square base evolves into an octagon as the column rises, then a 16-sided form, and finally to a circle. Most of the interior surfaces are filled with comprehensive and rich ornamentation consisting of abstract shapes, which combine smooth curves and jagged points. The iron railings for balconies and stairways are full of curvaceous elaboration.

Today, a total of eight spires have been built at La Sagrada Família, four on each facade. The facades are not connected and therefore have independent entrances. The visit to the spires is only by lift, one on each façade. The layout of the cloister of the church is completely original in the history of Christian architecture. Construction of La Sagrada Familia The construction of Sagrada Família commenced in 1882. Gaudí became involved only in 1883. He transformed the structural plan into his architectural and engineering style, which is a combination of gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted most of his time to this project until his untimely death in 1926. However, only less than a quarter of the project was complete. After Gaudí's death, the project continued under the guidance of Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The project resumed in 1940 under the joint leadership of architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner.

To speed things up, computer-aided design technology has been used. Modern technology enabled stones to be machine sculpted off-site by a CNC milling machine, whereas in the 20th century, the stone was carved by hand. As the construction spanned more than a hundred years, nearly 22 kinds of stone have been used for the construction of the church. By 2010, the project had passed midpoint and the anticipated completion date is set to be in 2026, which marks the centennial of Gaudí's death. However, the main nave has been completed and an organ has been installed, allowing the unfinished building to be used for religious services. Construction on the Sagrada Família was not supported by any government or official church sources, and relies solely on private donations and money from ticket sales. Private donations are accepted through the Friends of the Sagrada Família. Interesting Facts about La Sagrada Familia La Sagrada Familia’s distinctive silhouette has become symbolic of Barcelona. The church attracts more than 2.5 million visitors annually. Visitors can access the Nave, Crypt, Museum, Shop, and the Passion and Nativity towers.

The rule to enjoying this spectacular church is –‘the closer you scrutinize the decorative details, the more you will see’. Although La Sagrada Família is still incomplete today, the church has been selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. La Sagrada Família is also referred to as Temple Expiatiori de la Sagrada Familia, Basilica de la Sagrada Familia; Basilica of the Holy Family Antoní Gaudí dedicated more than 40 years of his life to its construction. He was buried in the Sagrada Familia crypt. La Sagrada Família is currently one of Spain’s most visited tourist attractions. Rick Edmondson's Unfinished Buildings - Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain BARCELONA SPAIN The Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, commonly known as the Sagrada Familia, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926). While never intended to be a cathedral (cathedrals being the seat of a bishop), the Sagrada Familia was planned from the outset to be a cathedral-sized building.

Although incomplete, it was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica in November 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Construction of Sagrada Familia had commenced in 1882, with Gaudi becoming involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style - combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudi devoted his life to the project and at the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. The construction progressed slowly as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936, only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the mid-point in 2010 with an anticipated completion date of 2026 - the centennial of Gaudi's death. The basilica has had a long history of dividing the citizens of Barcelona - over the initial possibility it might compete with Barcelona's cathedral, over Gaudi's design itself and over the possibility that work after Gaudi's death disregarded his design.

Critic Rainer Zerbst said "it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art" and Paul Goldberger called it "the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages." Above, detail of the roof in the nave. Gaudi designed the columns to mirror trees and branches, which were in his eyes God's creation. Text based in part upon information taken from Wilipedia. Thanks to Sarah Katherine James for guiding me to the Sagrada Familia. Sagrada Família, Spain – a large Roman Catholic church designed by architect Antoni Gaudi | Architecture & Interior Design Architecture & Interior Design The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. (Pablo Picasso) Main Menu · by shantiralsen · in architecture , art , Art Deco , building , Colors , design , Europe , photography , rustic , travel . · The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Famíli, commonly known as the Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926).

Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI. It is incorrect to refer to it as a cathedral as it is not the seat of a bishop. Though construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style—combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War—only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project’s greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026—the centennial of Gaudí’s death.

The basílica has a long history of dividing the citizens of Barcelona—over the initial possibility it might compete with Barcelona’s cathedral, over Gaudí’s design itself, over the possibility that work after Gaudí’s death disregarded his design, and the recent possibility that an underground tunnel of Spain’s high-speed rail link to France could disturb its stability. Describing Sagrada Família, art critic Rainer Zerbst said “it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art“ and Paul Goldberger called it “the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages.“ Share this: La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona | The Traveller La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia – Huge Roman Catholic Church The Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia or Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family is said to be a huge Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona. It had been designed by a Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi and though incomplete, the church has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

The Sagrada Familia had been Antoni Gaudi’s strong obsession and with the commission of a conservative society which intended to build a temple as atonement for the sins of modernity of the city, Gaudi envisaged its completion as his holy mission. When the funds seemed to be less, he had contributed his own and in the last years of his life he did not shy away in pleading with anyone he thought to be a likely donor. Gaudi created a temple 95 m long and 60 m wide which could accommodate 13,000 people with a central tower of 170m high above the transept –representing Christ and another 17 of 100m or more. The 12 besides the three facades seemed to represent the Apostles and the remaining five tend to represent the Virgin Mary with the four evangelist. Gaudi gave his towers enlarged outlines since he was inspired by the peaks of the holy mountain Montserrat outside Barcelona and covered them with a tangle of sculpture which seemed an extension of the stone.

Pope Benedict XVI – Consecrated/Proclaimed it a Minor Basilica In November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI had consecrated and proclaimed it as a minor basilica, distinct from a cathedral that must be the seat of a bishop. Gaudi’s masterpiece is the most popular attractions in Barcelona with its amazingly intricate exterior together with the appealing stained glass windows. However, La Sagrada Familia’s construction is unending and is not expected to be completed till 2026. The construction of Sagrada Familia had begun in 1882 where Gaudi had been involved in 1883 in taking over the project and changing it with his architectural as well as engineering style with the combination of Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. He had devoted his last years to the project and at the time of his death at the age of 73, in 1926, less than a quarter of the project had been completed.Construction of Sagrada Familia seemed to progress slowly since it depended on private donation and had been interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and resumed irregular progress in 1950s.

Anticipated Completion – 2026 At Gaudi’s death, only the vault, the apse walls, a portal and a tower had been completed. Three more towers had been added by 1930 that completed the northeast – Nativity façade. Toward 1936 rebels had burned and smashed the interior inclusive of workshops, models and plans and the work commenced in 1952. However controversy often hinders the progress. Foesof the continuation of the project stated that the computer models based on what little plans of Gaudi had survived the rebels’ rage, had led to the creation of a monster which has little to do with the plans and style of Gaudi. It is a dispute which tends to have little hope of resolution. Constructions moved to midpoint in 2010 though some of the greatest challenges of the project remained. The anticipated completion date is 2026 which is the centenary of Gaudi’s death. The church seem to share its site with the Sagrada Familia Schools building which was originally designed in 1909 by Gaudi for the children of the construction workers.

Repositioned in 2002, from the eastern area of the site to the southern corner, the building presently tends to house an exhibition. La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Home Barcelona tourist attractions La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona The Temple of the Sagrada Familia, known simply as the Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic Basilica in Barcelona, designed by the Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí. The construction started in 1882 and it is still under construction. It is the masterpiece of Gaudi and the greatest exponent of Catalan modernist architecture. It receives more than 4 million visitors a year making it the most visited monument in Spain. The construction began in the Gothic style, but after assuming the project Gaudí intended in 1883 it was completely redesigned. The temple, when completed, will have 18 towers, four in each of the three entrances, portals and domes. And a system of six towers, with a central dome tower (dedicated to Jesus at 170 meters height), four around it, dedicated to the evangelists, and a second dome dedicated to the Virgin.

The interior is made up of innovative tree-inclined columns and vaults based on hyperboloids and paraboloids (different types of curve shapes) looking for the optimal shape of the curved features. It is certainly the most famous tourist attraction in Barcelona, located 10 minutes walk from Hostal Khronos and a must see. Ask at the reception and our staff will be happy to provide detailed explanations on how to get there, the prices and schedule visits. BOOK NOW Sagrada Família | Barcelona Sights Sagrada Família The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família , is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site,[5] and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica, as distinct from a cathedral which must be the seat of a bishop.

Construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882 and Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926 less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Família's construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project's greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death. The basílica has a long history of dividing the citizens of Barcelona: over the initial possibility it might compete with Barcelona's cathedral, over Gaudí's design itself, over the possibility that work after Gaudí's death disregarded his design, and the recent proposal to build an underground tunnel of Spain's high-speed rail link to France which could disturb its stability.

Describing Sagrada Família, art critic Rainer Zerbst said, "It is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art" and Paul Goldberger called it, "The most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages."

Question: Which architect designed the Roman Catholic basilica known as La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona?
Answer: ANTONI GAUDI